Everyone ready to help those ladies in distress?

Mike: I'd rather help my wife in distress.

Micky: Ready.

Alex: You'd better believe it!

Zelda: I guess so.

Lauren: I am.

(The car slows down by a group of bedraggled-looking women and children. The kids range in age from infants in the laps of women and older children to young teens. The women go from college age to middle-aged matrons. Some of the women and children cry; others look angry or defeated. A large van sits forlornly on the side of the road with two busted tires and an open hood.)

Mike: (As he and the others get out of the car) Hi there, ladies. What seems to be the trouble?

Woman #1: (The oldest of the women, holding a baby to her chest, stands up to Mike; her accent is, like Mike's, pure Texas) Our van broke down on the side of the road. We thought we'd get help when this big black car stopped. (Nods at their van) Not as big as that vehicle you have, but more sleek, more like one of them fancy limos. Buncha guys got out an' said they'd fix it. Not only did they not fix the car, but they stole every valuable thing in it, includin' the money we were gonna use to buy clothes and furniture for the orphanage we just opened in Junctionville.

Davy: What did these men look like?

Woman #1: Like somethin' out of one of those old western movies, with fancy cowboy clothes and bananas around their mouths. I thought they were escapees from "Gunsmoke" or somethin' at first.

Mike: You know, this fellow here (indicates Alex) and I know a lot about fixin' cars. We can fix your car and get back your money...

Davy: Mike, we don't even know where they went to!

Mike: (Puts a hand in front of Davy, then goes on) ...For a price, ladies.

Woman #2: A price?

Mike: We'll do it for $1,000 dollars.

Davy: Mike!

Alex: Ix-nay.

Woman #1: (Narrows her eyes) You drive a hard bargain, son. (She turns to the others, and they whisper back and forth to each other for a few minutes before she turns to the Monkees) All right, we'll do it. (She shakes a finger that isn't holding a baby) But you'd better not cheat us. If you cheat us like those dirty sidewinders did, so help me God, we WILL sic the arm of the law on you.

Mike: (Puts up a hand) Cowboy's honor, ma'm. (Nods at Alex and Micky) Come on twins, let's see if we can get this baby up and runnin'. (Whispers to Mick) And figure out how we're gonna go after those goons. I know damn well they were the ones who stole that money. The description is a perfect fit. Em and Sheila must have still been in the car, or they'd already left Sheila and decided to do this just for kicks.

Micky: Right

Daphne: (Smiles at the woman) May I help you with that child? I have a little girl of my own at a friend's house. She reminds me a bit of her.

Woman #1: She's sleepin' right now, but my arm sure is tired. Just be careful. (She hands Daphne the baby as Mike and Micky lean over the hood and Alex checks the tires)

Mike: (To Micky as they look under the hood) We've gotta figure out where those goons are. They had a car. They could be anywhere by now.

Micky: How're we gonna do that?

Mike: (Taps his head) Maybe we could just use a dose of the old Imagination Power to take us to them, then get the drop on them. Surprise them somehow. (Smirks) Maybe we could disguise ourselves.

(Zelda, Lauren, and Daphne chat with the women and play with the children.)

Woman #1: (Goes over to the three) How long will it take for you to finish our van?

Alex: Not long.

Woman #1: Can you really get our money and things back, sonny? Those dirty bastards looked mighty nasty. I was just happy they didn't try anythin' worse than rippin' us off. No tellin' what they could have done to the girls or the kids.

Mike: We're gonna do what we can, ma'm. We've gone up against goons like these before. They're big and they're dangerous, but they ain't too bright. It's just a matter of outsmarttin' them.

Woman #1: How's the fixin' comin'?

Mike: It ain't too bad. Radiator's boiled over. You're gonna need new tires, though. (Looks at Alex) Does the Mustang have any spare tires that you can give to these nice ladies?

Alex: Sure does. I'm always prepared.

Mike: Good. We'll get the tires on the road, so the ladies can go to Junctionville, then we'll ask them where their orphanage is so we can give them their share of the money.

Davy: (Shakes his head as he joins them) I still don't think this is quite right...

Mike: (Shrugs) We need the money.

Davy: So do these ladies. Look at all those tykes!

Mike: Look, we'll discuss the morality of this later. Right now, we need to get these ladies on the road, so WE can get on the road to findin' Em and those bandits. Bad enough they stole stuff from us. Stealin' from orphans is just pushin' it.

Davy: But ain't we doin' that?

Mike: We ain't stealin'. This is earnin' our bread.

Davy: Is there anything I can do?

Mike: (Grins as Alex heads for the Mustang) Help Alex with the tires.

Alex: Here! *throws one tire, then another at Davy, knocking him to the ground* Oops.

Davy: Thanks, mate. I needed that.

Alex: Anytime.

(Cut from Davy on the ground as Alex helps him to his feet to the van. It's now back in much better shape, up to and including two pumped up new tires. The oldest woman leans out of the passenger seat.)

Woman #1: Thanks a heap, gang. Remember, we're on South Jackson Street in Junctionville, just around the corner from Old Town and down the street from the elementary school and Riverside Park.

Mike: (Nods) Thanks, ma'm. Don't worry, we'll get that money back.

Daphne: You can count on us!

Woman #1: I sure hope so, missy. (She drives off, the children clearly heard in the van)

Davy: Well, now what?

Mike: Now that we're alone, we're gonna use the Imagination Power to take us to those goons. (Looks up at the rapidly darkening sky) And fast if we want to try to make that gig and get home to our children.

Mike: Ok folks, think "Bandits who have Em."

(The entire group concentrates. There's a series of blue and black lights, and the group and the Mustang disappear from the side of the road.)

(When the lights subside, we're in a slightly swampy area near the river. A large wolf-like dog, a small tiger-striped tomcat, and a little black cat appear first.)

Mike: Ok guys, we're here.

Daphne: Huh?

Mike: Great disguises, huh?

Davy: Can't get much more disguised than this!

*We see twin black panthers swipe at each other. A pair of smaller minx follow behind, rolling their eyes. The Mustang is now a black Radio Flyer wagon.*

Mike: (Shakes his head) Ok you two, knock it off. We're supposed to be hurtin' the bandits, not each other.

Daphne: I love the wagon! (She jumps in) Somebody pull me!

Mustang: Don't do that.

Mike: Somebody's gonna have to pull him to the bandits. We gotta find those guys. (Puts a paw on his heart) Em's scared and angry and her wrists are raw and I think they gagged her, but she's ok...and she's here.

Davy: How are we gonna get the ladies' stuff back like this?

Mike: Well, those guys gotta be around here somewhere, if our minds lead us here. I doubt they'll be expectin' talkin' cats and dogs to get the drop on them.

Daphne: Look! (She points a paw through the tall river grass. A group of men sit against huge old trees by the river, laughing and checking out their spoils. It's the remaining bandits from the robbery. Emma sits against a tree. She is bound hand and foot and gagged, as Mike said, but is otherwise unharmed...and is VERY angry!)

Bandit #1: (Shows the others the money in a tin safe box) Damn, look at all this loot we got from those broads! Ten thousand big ones!

Bandit #2: (Holds out a dress) An' lots of other goods we can sell!

Mike: (Growls) Damn. Them poor chicks...

Davy: We've got to do somethin'!

Mike: (Smirks) I know what we can do. I weren't kiddin' when I said these guys ain't too bright. Let's scare the willies outta them, then attack.

(Mike howls as loud as he can. Cut back to the men. Two of them jump; one nearly drops his can of beans.)

Bandit #2: Wha...what was that?

Bandit #3: I don't like campin' here. I heard tell this is sacred Indian territory. Ghosts!

Bandit #1: Ehh, there ain't no such thing. Why don't'cha just get supper on?

Bandit #2: Sure... (Suddenly, there's a loud rustle in the trees, like two large animals on top of each other) Um, guys, are there any wild animals out here?

Bandit #1: Ehh, there ain't no such thing. Why don't'cha just get supper on?

Bandit #3: Yeah...

*Micky lets rip with a LOUD howl.*

Bandit #4: (Jumps into the largest bandit's lap) Oh my GOD!

Bandit #3: I knew it! This place is haunted!

Bandit #1: (Pushes the other bandit off his lap) Ain't you idiots ever slept outdoors before? That's just the animals!

(Daphne pushes the Mustang wagon. It makes a loud, squeaky noise.)

Bandit #2: That wasn't the car!

Bandit #1: Ok, who didn't grease his shoes yesterday?

*There's a loud roar, followed up by Lauren and Zelda appearing, looking cute.*

Bandit #2: Ghost cats!

Bandit #1: Aw hell, these nice kitties? They ain't gonna hurt a fly! (He leans over to pat Lauren)

(Emma raises her eyebrows. Where has she seen those "nice kitties" before?)

*Lauren bares her teeth and growls.*

Bandit #2: I think she would.

(There's another squeak and the sound of something whistling. Briefly cut to Alex and Micky fighting over who gets to ride the wagon while Mike whistles to get their attention.)

Bandit #4: I wanna get outta here!

Bandit #3: This place is haunted! (Points at the cats) Where did they come from? They're too big for mountain lions!

Bandit #1: Aw, pipe down. The Boss Lady ain't expectin' us again until the mornin'.

Bandit #3: Get those cats outta here!

("Gonna Buy Me A Dog" begins as two of the bandits try to reach for the two minxes. The largest searches the bushes for the source of the noise.)

*One minx bites his butt.*

(The man jumps and runs, trying to dislodge the minx.)

(A large black dog appears from out of the shadows, jumping right on another bandit! He's so frightened, he passes out the moment he hits the ground.)

(A black cat and a striped cat chase another bandit. They have sheets on them, and he thinks they're ghosts!)

(The dog and one of the large black panthers sprint over to Emma. They chew on her bonds, freeing her. She pulls off her gag.)

Emma: (Over the music) What's going on? (Frowns) Mike?

(He nods and gives her a big lick on her cheek!)

*The panther just grins.*

Emma: Micky?

*The panther shakes his head, then gives her a small lick on the other cheek.*

Emma: Then who...

(Mike shakes his head. They'll explain later. All three jump away as the largest bandit crashes into the tree where Emma was tied. Mike grins at the minx who threw him.)

*The minx waves a paw, grinning.*

(Emma runs over to the bandit's huge car and emerges with some rope. Let's round up these jerks and get them to the cops!)

(The largest bandit tries to reach for Mike, but he bites him on the hand instead.)

Bandit #1: (Pulls his hand away) Yeowch! These critters are real! Those ain't ghosts!

Bandit #3: Yeah, but... (That's all he gets out before a little black wagon comes straight at him!)

(Mike grins as the bandit is knocked into the wagon. He grabs hold of the wagon and pulls it over to Emma and her rope.)

(The two cats throw their sheets over the bandit they were chasing. He stumbles over to Emma, who ducks out of the way and lets him knock into the side of their car, knocking him out. The two cats shake paws afterwards.)

*The minxes run circles around the last two bandits, who fall into a head, dizzy.*

(Emma and Mike tie the bandits together as the music ends.)

Emma: Great work, gang. (Frowns) You know, there seems to be two more of you than there should be. You can turn back into humans now. All of these guys are dead to the world.

(The dog nods. There's a series of blue and black lights, and when they subside, the group stands in their place.)

Mike: Hi, darlin'. Look what we found lurkin’ in dark corners.

Emma: (Eyes widen; steps back) Alex! Zelda!

Alex: Here we go again.

Micky: Lauren and I read their souls. They're fine.

Emma: Fine? But how...

Mike: We'll explain after we drop these dorks off in Junctionville and pick up our pay.

Emma: Your pay?

Mike: It's kind of a long story.

Emma: Tell me in the car. It's getting late. The kids and Aunt Kate are going to be worried about us. We weren't supposed to be gone all day.